Best track on "Elvis" LP 1973

#528397

Correct me if I´m wrong, but this was Elvis´ first studio pop album in 17 months! An after the success of "Aloha from Hawaii" and the high quality of singles like Burning love/It´s a matter of time and Separate ways/Always on my mind, this must have been a huge disappointment in the middle of 1973.

The album starts with Elvis in very strong voice in the single track "Fool". It´s not the best track from the 72 sessions but if all tracks on this album had been this good.... well dream away.

The next song is also from the same sessions and it starts brilliant and has a good, catchy chorus. But the song seems unfinished. Compare with "Any day now" where Elvis sings in falsetto which makes the song change in the middle. Something is missing here, perhaps a bridge or a guitar solo. Elvis does what he can but starts repeating the chorus at 1.35 or so. Luckily, Ronnie Tutt saves the day at the ending.

No 1973 recordings available and no 1972 studio recordings left either. Let´s see, didn´t we have a track rfom 1971 that Elvis didn´t want to release? Let´s release it anyway. This song has been discussed before and Elvis simply hadn´t strong enough voice at this recording session to handle this demanding song.

The three songs recorded with Elvis at the piano, was probably not the big hits RCA looked for in 1973, but we should all be thankful that Felton Jarvis used to press the button even at jam sessions and so on. I don´t know if Elvis recorded those for official release...anyone who knows? The overall feeling is that Elvis sang those songs with care and his piano playing is quite solid here.

Side one ends with "It´s impossible", a veeery big Las Vegas arrangement and not really my cup of tea, but Elvis sang in a very smooth voice in his first 1972 Vegas engagement and is splendid here. My old mother loves this one.

"Side two kicks in a optimistic way and Elvis sings "For lovin´ me" in a very nice laid back style with almost no vibrato at all (Like "Early mornin´ rain). A bit unusual and fresh. One of the best here.

"Padre" is in my opinion an horrible track. Elvis sounds strained in a wrong way. Together with "This is our dance" his worst 70´s track with "Never again" running close.

Luckily, a jam rounds up the album and Elvis doesn´t sound as happy on any of the other tracks of this album. A shame that he hadn´t a lyric sheet at the moment.

I have a hard time to choose between "Don´t think twice...", "For lovin´ me" or "Where do I go from here" (even if it sounds unfinished). Today the first one of those is my favourite.

Vote on!

Kind regards
Björn

Rob · #528404

I can tolerate everything but "Padre" from this album. However, "Don't Think Twice" is at the top of my list.

#528438

I particularily like (That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me and Don't Think Twice It's Alright but the latter is better in it's longer edits. My favourite track however is It's Still Here, Elvis totally wrapped up in a song and simultaneously able to convey loss and anger with his vocal performance.

#528570

Can't wait for the Classic Album Series reissue of this one.

Seriously, it is astonishing that RCA felt comfortable putting out this album. No other A-list mainstream artist would have had a management team allow such a travesty. Not that there are not some redeeming songs here, but over all, a mixed bag with so much filler should never have been released.

Rob · #528582

Thanks for your damned input on the LP. Now, play the damned game and pick a damned song.

Damn it!

#528622

Rob wrote:Thanks for your damned input on the LP. Now, play the damned game and pick a damned song.

Damn it!

Are you talking to me?

Rob · #528668

I was.

#528672

Rob wrote:I was.

Well, damn it, you know "Padre" is the most stunning track on the album and should have been a lead-off single.

I always enjoyed Elvis' vocal performance of "It's Impossible" - guess that one would get my vote.

Rob · #528755

I thought for sure you'd be a "Padre" kind of guy.

"It's Impossible" is a good song.

#528890

Hard to pick one song really but since no one had voted for "I will be true" it got my vote.
This is a weak album with not even one great song but a handful of decent ones.
"Padre" is the worst song, never liked it.
"It´s impossible" is not my kind of song but Elvis sings it beautfully!

This album should never had seen the light of the day if RCA had any sense at all.

Lennart

#528995

I voted for "Love me love the life I lead"...I love that song, but I like most of this album. Only track that I never listen to is Padre, actually it`s the only Elvis song that I really can`t listen to

JerryNodak · #529385

I'll admit that when I first bought this album back in the day I wasn't crazy about the Elvis "at the piano" cuts, but I came to appreciate them as the years went by. My least favorite cut would be "Padre," but I don't hate it. I guess my fave would be "Where Do I Go From Here?" A close second would be (That's What You Get) "For Lovin' Me" or "It's Impossible".

#529411

Rob wrote:I thought for sure you'd be a "Padre" kind of guy.

"It's Impossible" is a good song.

By Perry Coma it was.............................................

#529783

JerryNodak wrote:I'll admit that when I first bought this album back in the day I wasn't crazy about the Elvis "at the piano" cuts, but I came to appreciate them as the years went by. My least favorite cut would be "Padre," but I don't hate it. I guess my fave would be "Where Do I Go From Here?" A close second would be (That's What You Get) "For Lovin' Me" or "It's Impossible".

I didn´t know that it was Elvis who was playing piano until the "silver box" was released in 1980. Was it common knowledge in the 70´s?

//Björn

JerryNodak · #529844

Perhaps to some people. Not to me. Like you, I had no idea until I bought the Silver box on vinyl.

#529862

dreambear wrote:
JerryNodak wrote:I'll admit that when I first bought this album back in the day I wasn't crazy about the Elvis "at the piano" cuts, but I came to appreciate them as the years went by. My least favorite cut would be "Padre," but I don't hate it. I guess my fave would be "Where Do I Go From Here?" A close second would be (That's What You Get) "For Lovin' Me" or "It's Impossible".
I didn´t know that it was Elvis who was playing piano until the "silver box" was released in 1980. Was it common knowledge in the 70´s?

//Björn

Not at all. These albums didn't give any details about musicians, recording dates etc. I had much the same reaction, Björn, in the beginning. Didn't like them much at first, but that changed with time. My favorite tracks on this LP have always been (That's What You Get) "For Lovin' Me" and "It's Impossible", the latter with a very, very Vegas arrangement, but really beautifully sung (forget Como...)

JerryNodak · #530136

Forget Como? Never! He's one of my all time faves. Love his version of the song.

#530154

I'm not telling which song I voted for, but it's all right, I didn't have to think twice about it.....................................

#530282

ColinB wrote:I'm not telling which song I voted for, but it's all right, I didn't have to think twice about it.....................................

Must have been "Padre"...

//Björn

#530302

Lonely Summer wrote:It's impossible to guess which song this Fool voted for!

Must have been 'Padre'...

#530546

I think "It's Impossible" is a good version by Elvis! I was truly surprised when I first heard it on that album! The album itself could well have fitted the Camden formula by then!

#530690

i know you can only vote for 1 song but hey im havin 2
where do i go from here
love me love the life i lead
both are regularly played here in the darkest swamps of scunthorpe while i am held captive in my office

#530872

keninlincs wrote:i know you can only vote for 1 song but hey im havin 2
where do i go from here
love me love the life i lead
both are regularly played here in the darkest swamps of scunthorpe while i am held captive in my office

You have to choose, my friend. Go for the "feeling of today"

//Björn

#531082

ok today i choose
love me love the life i lead

poormadpeter · #531130

Don't Think Twice is a wonderful track - always makes me smile hearing Elvis so wrapped up in a song like this and not willing to let it go. If only RCA had the guts to release the entire 8 minutes or so then we would have had a longer album. I got this on CD and it only lasts 23 minutes!

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